Hot Topics in Pain Management [August 2016]
27
News & Trends
Latest news updates in breast cancer research
SPINAL STIMULATOR DEVICES
BECOMING MORE VERSATILE
Innovation in the design of spinal
cord stimulators for control of
chronic pain syndromes includes
wireless devices to eliminate surgical
implantation of the battery and
devices with high frequency
conduction to reduce paresthesias,
according to an update at the Pain
Care for Primary Care meeting.
*
For more information, visit
http://www.familypracticenews.com/s
pecialty-focus/pain/single-article-
page/spinal-stimulator-devices-
becoming-more-
versatile/4a5eb37b096ae41b8d0260e
32946b965.html
KETAMINE COULD TREAT
CHRONIC PAIN
Using ketamine to treat chronic
pain following surgery is a cheaper
and safer alternative to commonly
prescribed conventional painkillers,
according to new research.
*
For more information, visit
http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/heal
th/article/2016/05/30/ketamine-could-
treat-chronic-pain
5 MYTHS ABOUT THE CDC OPIOID
GUIDELINES
In a recent survey of nearly 2,000
pain patients, over two-thirds said
their opioid medication has either
been reduced or stopped by their
doctor since the CDC's opioid
prescribing guidelines were released.
*
For more information, visit
http://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stor
ies/2016/8/15/5-myths-about-the-cdc-
opioid-guidelines
PAIN DOCTORS: INSURANCE
COMPANIES WON'T COVER THE
ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS
Though the increased focus on
pain treatment resulted in increases
in opioid prescriptions in most
doctors initially, for years now, pain
specialists have advocated using
alternative treatments to alleviate
their patients' chronic pain. There's
one problem: Health-insurance
companies are increasingly cutting
reimbursements for these alternative
treatments or not covering them at
all.
*
For more information, visit
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pain-
doctors-insurance-companies-wont-
214800636.html
CHRONIC PAIN MORE COMMON
IN PARTNERS OF DEPRESSED
INDIVIDUALS
Chronic pain and depression are
both common and debilitating
conditions. As researchers continue
to investigate them, links between
the two are becoming clearer. New
findings might help move toward
effective treatments for both in the
future.
*
For more information, visit
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar
ticles/312372.php
FDA-APPROVED NERVE ABLATION
PROCEDURE MAY OFFER NEW
TREATMENT OPTION FOR LOW
BACK PAIN
A minimally invasive, nerve
ablating procedure, recently cleared
by the Food and Drug
Administration, may give some
people with chronic low back pain a
new treatment option.
*
For more information, visit
http://www.news-
medical.net/news/20160727/FDA-
approved-nerve-ablation-procedure-
may-offer-new-treatment-option-for-
low-back-pain.aspx
FDA PANEL RECOMMENDS
APPROVAL OF EGALET ABUSE-
DETERRENT OPIOID
U.S. advisers voted
overwhelmingly Thursday to
recommend approval of a Wayne,
Pennsylvania, company's opioid
prescription painkiller formulated to
make it harder to tamper with to get
a quick high.
*
For more information, visit
http://articles.philly.com/2016-08-
06/business/74869394_1_fda-panel-
morphine-the-fda
FOR PATIENTS IN CHRONIC PAIN,
MEDICAL MARIJUANA NEEDS
ROBUST CLINICAL RESEARCH
As a therapy, cannabis is
becoming more widely prescribed.
Most importantly, it has emerged as
a topic of debate in terms of policy-
making, policing, health risks and
even municipal zoning.
*
For more information,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opi
nion/for-patients-in-chronic-pain-
medical-marijuana-needs-robust-
clinical-research/article31348592/
DEA DECLINES REQUEST TO
RECLASSIFY MARIJUANA, CITING
ITS 'HIGH POTENTIAL FOR
ABUSE'
The Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) has declined two petitions to
reclassify marijuana from a Schedule
I controlled substance under the
Controlled Substances Act (CSA),
noting that cannabis "does not have
N e w s & Tr e n d s
E x p l o r i n g P a i n M a n a g e m e n t i n t h e M e d i a
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